home décor Archives - At Home in Arkansas

8 Design Book Releases To Look Out For This Fall

August 9, 2019 by Stephanie Maxwell Newton

In our world, the end of summer means a couple of things: Hopefully the hottest days are behind us, and we can look forward to the latest releases of design books. Would it surprise you to know we are more excited about the latter of the two? In our August issue, we shared three of our favorite design books that we plan on picking up this fall. For a clickable version (and to admire those beautiful covers), we have compiled a full collection of eight books recommended by local designers to be sure to get your hands on.

From the White House to the gardens of Versailles, Rachel Lambert Mellon’s landscape and garden design is held to the highest regard in The Gardens of Bunny Mellon.…

The Art Fix with Joshua Plumlee: Paintings vs. Drawings

October 27, 2015 by agill@athomearkansas.com

So to start off this month’s post, let’s briefly look at the subtle differences between two different categories of art. This will enable two things: a) for us to be on the same “page” when it comes to discussing artworks on paper (Please, PLEASE forgive the awful puns in this post!) and (b) for you to impress all your friends with your insightful knowledge of the art world.

Ok, so drawings vs. paintings. What’s the difference?? Scholars may differ slightly in their varying definitions, but I will do my best to offer us simple, concise definitions…

Drawing: any work using “dry” media (eg, charcoal, pencil, chalk or pastel) – the one exception here being the “wet” media of pen/brush and ink – usually executed on paper, although some artists continually push this limit to include drawings on canvas.

Painting: any work executed using “wet” media, including mixed media wherein any combination of oil paint, acrylic paint, charcoal, encaustic, etc. A painting can be done on paper, canvas, board, or any surface capable of sustaining the pigments safely over time.

The distinction here is that a “drawing” can quickly morph into becoming a “painting” by simply including a liquid to suspend the pigment on the surface.

Envision this as an example………. picture an artist sketching with charcoal on paper. Then suddenly he reaches for a paint brush, dips it into water and begins to “paint” by smudging the charcoal around the paper with the wet brush, thus moving from drawing into painting.

Again, the scholars out there may be screaming inside right now, and that’s ok. But as an active artist, I’ll tell you that this is often the line of distinction for me personally. This is how I engage my own art process. And it is with this viewpoint that I regard the work of others – whether I’m scouting pieces for clients or simply admiring them in a gallery.

It’s funny – many people consider European, Old-World oil paintings (often, specifically oil and not acrylic!) to be the quintessential piece of “art”. That’s fine. They can think that way.

It’s also funny that many contemporary “painters” out there today are blurring the lines (again, with the shameless puns. Whew!!!) between painting and drawing. Take for instance the artist Scott Ingram. He would probably be considered a painter, first and foremost. But recently he has used nail polish, an atypical medium, and the pull of gravity to make his mark. Check out his process….

By nearly omitting himself and allowing gravity to fatefully pull the vibrant nail polish pigments across and down the paper, Ingram has created something altogether different – part drawing, part painting? You tell me. But look at how captivating his work can be…

Notice how designer Suzanne Kasler infuses this highly-traditional room setting with new life by selecting her color palette based on a Scott Ingram piece on paper. It’s truly delightful!

Another artist who blurred the lines of drawing and painting is the late Cy Twombly, whose pieces are at once childlike and intimate, cryptic and profound.

Such a wonderful composition, artwork with furnishings. Great mix.

And here, notice how this monolithic-scaled work on paper presides over this living room setting. The piece is both serene and fragile. There is something very familiar and childlike about being face-to-face with artwork on paper.

In his book Living with Art, author Mark Getlein writes: “In drawings…we have the impression of being present at an intimate transaction between artist and (paper).”

And it’s true, there is something immediate and human about a fragile piece of paper, especially considering that a work on canvas may last centuries longer. Little Rock’s own Arts Center is devoted to works on paper. Did you know that?

Notice how placing a drawing on paper above this mantle provides an air of simple elegance and approachability.

And how this small-scale ink abstract on paper by Franz Kline amps up the power factor in this bold lacquered dining room by Suzanne Kasler…

Good stuff, right??!!

Well, there’s some brilliant art discourse for your day. Hopefully you’re totally in tune with your inner artist by now. Now go grab a pencil or paintbrush and make a doodle, or a sketch, or a painting even. And above the all, learn to value artworks on paper. They’re really so cool. Cheers!

Active in the Little Rock design scene since 2006, Joshua Plumlee is passionate about reimagining elegant interiors with a focus on original artwork and an unconventional approach to luxurious style.

Talking Textiles with Kelli Wilson: Room for the “Blues”

May 21, 2015 by agill@athomearkansas.com

With the passing of blues legend B. B. King, I’m in a space of reflection about his legacy and about the blues–even the design blues. Some of the most relaxing and sumptuous homes I have worked on tend to be built around shades of blue.

Always on trend and constantly being updated, I “fall back” to my go-to color when in doubt if an inspiration. With all the shades of teal blue and turquoise being predominant in outdoor textiles, I sometimes find it difficult to choose just one palette from which to work.

Mixing shades within a chosen hue makes the feel of your space much more interesting. Layering texture, pattern and color tones of different textiles adds to the luxurious feel of “fullness” in your designs. Let the “blues” within your spirit guide you to the ultimate comfort of your chosen design!

Kelli Wilson is the creative mind behind Kelli Wilson Consulting, now based inside Ellen Golden Antiques in Little Rock.

Behind the Scenes with IO Metro

September 9, 2014 by ark_admin

The Fall 2014 IO Metro catalog is out this week, and their team invited us to have a behind-the-scenes peek as they staged and photographed the furnishings and home accessories for this season, many of which are customizable to your own home. It was a home decorating inspiration fest! It was a lot of hard work (5 shoot days at 9 hours each, 18 prep days at 8 hours each, 9 takedown days at 4 hours each, and planning time was about 20 hours!), but they sure looked like they were having fun.

The always-stunning Local Art section now also includes Buddy Whitlock, a self-taught Arkansas artist who finds inspiration in color, and interesting shapes. Have a look at some of his work:

Are you as excited as we are about all of these eye-catching offerings? You can visit IO Metro stores (Arkansas locations include Little Rock, Fayetteville, Rogers, and Jonesboro) to browse and bring the looks into your own home (ahem, they also have free design services if you’re not a diy-er), or you can check out their website and follow them on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest news. (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram)

From Providence Design: Layering for Impact

July 16, 2014 by ark_admin

Country French, Fall/Winter 2011

We love the idea of layering special objects together for even more impact. May it be a pair of old shutters with an antique mirror, or hanging art on bookshelves, the options are endless. Layering objects together really brings focus to the space, and the particular object. It is also a great way to add depth to an otherwise flat object. These images really get us thinking.

Design by Michelle Nussbaumer (from the book Domestic Art: Curated Interiors by Holly Moore)

Look at how much more interesting the art layered on top of the fabric is.

Design by Providence Design

In a powder bath we added interest, and dimension by layering the rock wall with an iron piece and mounting a mirror onto the iron. A starburst mirror on a wall of windows really turned up the volume in this living room, not to mention the fabulous architectural fragment attached to a wooden panel. Below an otherwise average mirror was taken over the top by adding a second mirror.

Design by Providence Design

House Beautiful magazine

House & Home magazine

A simple yet awesome idea is to hang your favorite art on your bookshelves. What a great way to get a fabulous and personal look.

Elle Decor magazine

So what do you think? Are you as excited about layering objects as we are?

The Traveling Designer with Tobi Fairley

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

I am thrilled to write my inaugural post for The Traveling Designer with Tobi Fairley. With this exciting blog series I will bring to you all my favorite finds, shopping destinations, delicious meals, chic hotels and behind-the-scenes design news from around the globe. Iâ€™ll take you inside industry events, designer showhouses, furniture markets and much, much more.

So letâ€™s jump right in with one of my favorite places in the worldâ€¦New York City.

I had the great pleasure of designing a tabletop in April, along with 30 other designers including Philip Gorrivan (table shown above), for the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Spring Gala. I donâ€™t know about you, but I jump at any chance I get to trek up to the Big Apple and get a little taste of city life.

My home base is usually the Carlyle Hotel. The hotelâ€™s style was created over the years by design greats like Dorothy Draper and Mark Hampton and is still very chic today.

It is perfectly situated on the Upper East Side at 76^th and Madison Avenue. Itâ€™s conveniently located near great restaurants, and itâ€™s a stoneâ€™s throw away from here.

The Carlyleâ€™s own restaurant and bar is a local hotspot for drinks and afternoon tea.

And speaking of restaurants, I rarely make a trip to the city without a visit to a few of my favorites including the Kelly Wearstler designed CafÃ© BG at Bergdorf Goodman. Itâ€™s the perfect spot for lunch!

Other favorites are Park Avenue NYC which changes its interiors and menu seasonally, and Sant Ambroeus, a see and be seen locale serving three delicious Italian meals a day and where I sat next to her on my last visit.

From Pantone to Eddie Ross, everyone is saying the hot colors of the season are turquoise and orange. Eddie set the tone with his window display for Bloomingdaleâ€™s New York around the time of my visit.

This seasonâ€™s color trends of turquoise and orange were right on the mark showing up this spring and summer in New York fashion and design windows alike from Coach to Crate and Barrel to Gucci.

And speaking of turquoise, I bumped into Marjorie Skourus (designer of this fabulous turquoise chandelier) who was launching her gorgeous line at a cocktail event with the Dennis Miller Showroom at 200 Lex, one of the two New York to-the-trade design centers.

Design openings and events like DIFFAâ€™s spring Dining by Design happen in the city daily. For the design industry there is never a lack of inspiration or new product ideas in New York. I was invited to two exciting design openings while in town.

First my friend and Arkansas native Brad Ford brought me to the new Rose Tarlow showroom opening at the D&D Center. It is a beautiful showcase of Roseâ€™s designs mixing natural wood tones with neutral fabrics for a timeless and sophisticated look.

And speaking of fabulous, I had the pleasure of attending the Juan Montoya book signing at Frette linens on Madison and 66^th Street. Juanâ€™s gorgeous new book is a must-buy.

With his unassuming and kind personality, you would never know Juan designed one of the most popular rooms (I agree) at the 2009 Kips Bay Showhouse.

I rounded out my trip with stops by my favorite book store, some great shopping for the little one, and drinks and dinner for two at one of the hottest spots in New York.

The Mark Hotel is newly opened and designed by famed French designer Jacques Grange.

The black and white marble floors are stunning.

The Mark Bar

serves the best Kumquat Mojito ever. Be sure not to miss their rosemary popcorn. It is de-lish! The Jean-Georges restaurant inside is impossible to get into, with at least a month wait for reservations. Iâ€™m hoping to dine there my next trip.

Another must visit restaurantâ€¦Maialino at the Gramercy Park Hotel. Thanks to my talented friend Michael Devine, who lives on Gramercy Park, we got a reservation at this new Danny Meyer joint.

In all its simplicity, Maialino is a feast for the eyes, and the Italian-inspired fare left our taste buds soaring. And remember, you must save room for a bite of the olive oil cake, more moist than any butter cake youâ€™ve ever tasted. I promise itâ€™s worth the calories.

Well, there it is, my latest trip to the Big Apple in a nutshell. I hope you will check out some of these great places on your next visit. And Iâ€™ll be back soon with lots of exciting tips, trends and topics from other exciting cities. Iâ€™m off to pack now for another excursion. Until we meet again, Happy Travels!

pretty porch, fun DIYs, bedroom decor

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

From account executive Catherine Barron: “This weather makes me want to be outside all day long and I would love to be sitting on this amazing porch right now! Â This is a fabulous site also. Have A Fantastic Friday, Everyone!” (“Such lovely decorating ideas” from Eclectic Revisited)

From marketing coordinator Megan Lindsey: “Fall is finally in the air! Temperatures are slowly starting to drop and the leaves are falling. I stumbled across this fall decorating blog (Southern Momentum). It has some great ideas for adding touches of fall to your home, just in time for Halloween and Thanksgiving. How cute are these white pumpkins?” (“Fall decor in a flash” from Southern Momentum)

From art director Mandy Keener: “It’s a swirly bit of happiness.” (“Water marble tutorial” from Hey, Nice Nails!)

From editor in chief Diane Carroll: “Love the rug and lamp and the geometric patterns they have going. And that vintage desk, so fun! Great colors too, the blue and white with a twist of gold.” (“Bedroom board” from Knight Moves)

From associate editor/online editor Paulette Pearson: “Completely and totally ready to wear these outfits. Forever trying to perfect the cozy/chic look that these outfits so perfectly exude.” (“Welcome, autumn” from Haute Design)

Room of the Week 7.27.10

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

Today’s pick: a room that I kept thinking about after our photo shoot, because it was so pretty and fun, a perfect perch for a girl of any age.

It belongs to Millie, a charming three year old, and was designed by Little Rock-based designer Tobi Fairley. Millie and her family’s house are a part of our August Family Homes issues, and when I was there for the photo shoot, I kept looking at this room and thinking how much my own daughter (now 14) would enjoy it, and how much I would have enjoyed it as a girl-teenager-young adult as well.

For one, it contains some of my favorite lines: Cole & Son wallpaper, Designers Guild fabrics, an American Leather bed, and Mies van der Rohe ottomans from Soho Modern. All classics in my book, and a great mix–from mid-century modern to the wildly fun prints for which Designers Guild is known.

I can imagine little Millie using elements of this room for years to come–that bed and those ottomans could even look fabulous in a post-college apartment. Fun, colorful, kid-friendly, yet classic enough to last for years, all the elements that make for a great kids’ room.

(all photos by Nancy Nolan)

In case you missed:

Are you a fan of Tobi Fairley’s work? Have you seen her new blog exclusive for At Home: The Traveling Designer with Tobi Fairley?

PLUS: Great fabrics from a famous name

The Foundary’s top home decor trends for fall

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

The Foundary

, a flash sales website that offers a curated selection of home and lifestyle products from coveted brands and emerging designers at up to 70% off retail, is here today with fall home decor trends, and runway looks to boot. We say, any trend involving sequins is a good one. A girl’s got to glam it up somehow, right? And faux fur? Now you’re talkin’.

Thanks to The Foundary for stopping by! For daily sales events, be sure to visit The Foundary and become a member asap!

This fall, expect to see literal interpretations of 70s classics. Embrace the decade’s amplified trends with interior updates. These seven runway-inspired looks arrive tailored for daily functionality.

Sequins, go for it.

Take the plunge and go for embellished accents. It’s important to show restraint when working with sequins. Bejeweled throw pillows introduce the trend in moderation.

Elie Saab

Colored corduroy returns.

Once praised for its schoolyard style, corduroy returns for a more mature audience. Dyed cords in pinks, purples and oranges add color without overpowering. When used for upholstery, look to corduroy for lasting durability.

Alice + Olivia

Graceful florals introduce charm.

Utilize floral prints with feminine appeal. Traditionally reserved for springtime apparel, floral prints are set to uplift conventional layouts. Choose warm neutrals or bold jewel tones for a charming finish.

Lanvin

Rebecca Taylor

Aviary themes fly above the conventional.Â

Show your admiration for nature’s winged creatures. Bird silhouettes and antiqued cages convey French Country styling. Look for upholstered pieces with understated prints.

Miu Miu

Take the lead with metallic finishes.

Gold intends to reclaim its first-place status. Use natural wood and rich black accents to tame the bold metallics. It’s an opulent finish for conventional furniture and serving ware.

Diane von Furstenberg

Faux fur trimmings complete the look.

It’s impossible to deny fur’s posh effect. Welcome fall’s cool front with luxe trim and accessories. Faux fur is both cost effective and animal approved.

Tory Burch

Burberry Prorsum

Complementary colors work together.

Revive colonial traditions with patchwork designs. Contemporary color palettes update the classic pattern for modern preferences.

At Home Friday Favorites 8.13.10

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

“I love the look of large indoor plants,” says ad coordinator Laura LaRue. “I’ve been meaning to add a few in my home, but I just need help with deciding on which kind…so many choices!” (“Planted” from A Life’s Design)

Katie Rawlings, a recent bride herself, says: “There is something about a hair piece that makes me smile! An extra big smile when I see something this elaborate and fabulous!” (“Wedding Wednesday: Fascinating Headware” from Apartment #34)

Associate editor Paulette Pearson: “I head over to Bliss each Monday for her ‘I Heart Monday’ long list of pretty odds and ends–like this plate–ranging from home decor to fashion to books. It’s a great way to discover new product lines.” (“I Heart Monday” from Bliss)

8 Design Book Releases To Look Out For This Fall

The Art Fix with Joshua Plumlee: Paintings vs. Drawings

Talking Textiles with Kelli Wilson: Room for the “Blues”

Behind the Scenes with IO Metro

From Providence Design: Layering for Impact

The Traveling Designer with Tobi Fairley

pretty porch, fun DIYs, bedroom decor

Room of the Week 7.27.10

The Foundary’s top home decor trends for fall

Sequins, go for it.

Colored corduroy returns.

Graceful florals introduce charm.

Aviary themes fly above the conventional.Â

Take the lead with metallic finishes.

Faux fur trimmings complete the look.

Complementary colors work together.

At Home Friday Favorites 8.13.10

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Sequins, go for it.

Colored corduroy returns.

Graceful florals introduce charm.

Aviary themes fly above the conventional.Â

Take the lead with metallic finishes.

Faux fur trimmings complete the look.

Complementary colors work together.

Subscribe!

Start your subscription today!

About Us

Follow Us

Newsletter

Advertising

Subscriptions

How to Submit

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At Home in Arkansas